ACeDB data update via cron/expect/tace

Hello,
I wish to update ACeDB databases via cron jobs and not via interactive means.
Has anyone attempted to do this?
tace with parse command almost does this but it's interactive.
I have created a 'expect' script to drive the tace program to
parse rawdata update files but it fails to update the database. I think its
something to do with pawning a new shell???
expect script:
#!/packages/expect/bin/expect
set env(ACEDB) /packages/mbx/ACeDB
set env(DBDIR) /packages/mbx/ACeDB/database
spawn $env(ACEDB)/bin.SOLARIS/tace
expect {acedb >} { send " ?\r"}
expect {acedb >} { send "parse /packages/mbx/ACeDB/rawdata/update.3-1\r"}
expect {acedb >} { send "quit\r"}
The '?' or help works.
The parse runs but fails to update DB.
The 'quit' works.
What am l doing wrong?
Is it possible to run tace via options list? i.e tace -parse filename
Regards,
Dilip Tailor
HGMP-RC